Broken bones are common, and broken (or fractured) ankles are no exception. Any movement of the foot or leg can unintentionally cause an ankle injury or break. A broken ankle can result from a fall, trip, slip or motor vehicle accident. Ankle fractures can be small or large, ranging from minute cracks in the bones to severe breaks that come out of the skin. Treatment and recovery from fractured ankle injuries depend on the severity of the break, and may include surgery. If you have broken your ankle due to accident, slip, trip or fall, you may be entitled to compensation. Please seek the advice of an attorney to learn your rights.

Ankle Anatomy
Your ankle is a joint which exists at the intersection of three different bones, including the bones in your lower leg. There are three groups of ligaments holding the bones in place. Also, the joint is enclosed by membranes which form a "joint capsule." Inside the capsule is fluid which acts as a lubricant for the joints. The bones comprising this joint are:

• Tibia: The shinbone which makes up the inside of your ankle bone.
• Fibula: The small bone of your calf or lower leg, which comprises the outside of your ankle.
• Talus: The center of your anklebone. The malleoli are the bumps at the end of your tibia and fibula, and these are often broken when the ankle is fractured.

Broken Ankle Causes
Ankle injuries occur when the ankle joint is stressed beyond its capacity. If this stress is big enough, the joint will break along with the tearing of the ankle ligaments. One or more of the bones comprising the ankle can be broken in one incident. Here are the main actions which can result in a broken ankle:

• Absorbing extreme force, as in falling from into an unmarked hole or ditch, or a higher impact injury such as a car accident
• Twisting from side-to-side, such as tripping over a sidewalk
• Rolling inward or outward, as in slipping on an escalator
• Overextending or flexing, as in walking poorly off a broken curb
• Repetitive use or overuse can result in ankle stress fractures. Activities resulting in stress fractures of the ankle include running long distances or working on one's feet in poor flooring situations.

There are additional risk factors for breaking an ankle. These include:

• Work environment: Construction sites workers have increased risk of ankle injury. Working in a cluttered and/or poorly-lit situation will also increase risk.
• High-energy sports activities
• Being overweight
• Age

Ankle Fracture Symptoms
Ankle injuries are nearly always marked by pain. Hearing a "snap" does not necessarily mean that a bone has been broken. The sound could be that of tearing ligaments. Here are possible signs that an ankle has been broken:

• Pain, which can be:
  • Immediate and severe
  • Worse when active, less when inactive
  • Experienced in or around the fractured area (possibly in the foot, the side of the foot, or the knee)
• Tenderness in the area
• Swelling, signaling damage to the issue in the ankle capsule or the presence of blood in the joint
• Bruising, immediately or after the injury
• Numbness in the ankle or foot
• Deformity of the bones or structure of the ankle area resulting from a more severe break
• Inability to walk or put pressure on the foot/ankle area

Seek medical attention if you:

• have intolerable pain after taking over-the-counter pain medication.
• cannot stand on or move your ankle.
• experience continued foot/ankle numbness or the inability to move your toes.
• can see serious bone deformation or the bone is coming out of the skin.

Ankle Break Treatment

Once a physician has determined that your ankle is broken, a splint may be placed on the ankle for up to two weeks. Slight fractures do not require splinting; however, with larger fractures, realignment of the ankle bones is sometimes required prior to splinting. Soft casts or crutches are also prescribed in order to keep weight off the ankle during the healing period. With more serious breaks and/or displacement, surgery can be required. On average, an ankle fracture requires four to eight weeks for the bone/s to heal.

Complications of broken ankles are uncommon but can include:

• Persistent Pain
• Bone infection
• Nerve Damage
• Arthritis
• Blood Vessel Damage
• Compartment Syndrome

If you or a family member has broken an ankle as the result of an accident, you should seek the help of an experienced attorney. If you live in California, please take the time to contact the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP at 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776). We will give you a free and confidential consultation to help determine your rights. Please call us now.